Councilor – Kristina Walowski

Kristina Walowski is an Assistant Professor of Geology at Middlebury College. She started as a GeoCUR Council in 2018.

“For my research, I primarily utilize melt inclusions (tiny blobs of magma trapped in crystals) and mafic minerals (olivine, pyroxene, and spinel) to study a variety of magmatic processes from magma reservoir evolution and eruption dynamics, to mantle melting and volatile recycling in the mantle. This interest in magmatic processes began while studying for my B.S. in Geology at UCLA, and was solidified during my undergraduate research experience for which I explored the volatile history of the Bishop Tuff as recorded by apatite. This positive and formative experience was the main reason I chose to attend graduate school at the University of Oregon, where I completed my Ph.D. in 2015. Through my experience in research as an undergraduate, I gained confidence in my ability as an independent scientist and fell in love with the excitement of discovery and the pursuit of knowledge. Now, as a new faculty member at an undergraduate-only institution, Middlebury College, I aim to provide my students with the same opportunity. Integrating students into my research and watching them grow through Middlebury’s year-long research thesis has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job. My interest in improving my mentoring practices and becoming connected to a broader community led me to CUR, and as a first-term GeoCUR Councilor, I am excited to expand my scholarship in science education and help promote undergraduate research opportunities in the geosciences.”